6.4 Pounds Lost – Week One, Low Carb Challenge (Food Journal)

We’re just one week into the 90 Day Low Carb Spring Challenge (feel free to join us anytime!) and everyone is reporting in with how much weight they’ve lost in the first week. Fun!

I lost 6.4 pounds in the last week myself, and this is GREAT progress for me since my hysterectomy just over a year ago. Ever since that surgery I’ve struggled to lose 2-4 pounds on and off at best.

Maintaining my post-surgery weight IS “progress” in my book considering it’s practically expected to gain a minimum of 25 pounds the first year.

I decided to do something a little different for this challenge though, knowing I really wanted to get the weight loss kick started again. I usually just stick to 20 net carbs a day, eating most of those in high fiber and/or green vegetables, making sure I include fat in my diet, and pretty much just keeping it that simple.

But this time I chose to make a few small changes: lower carb, higher fat, less “junk food” or products, and more “real food”. I also ate less cheese than usual. Zero real exercise lately by the way, and I haven’t been drinking water either. If I had to guess, I’d say the 6.4 pound weight loss had to do with the decrease in carbs and major increase in healthy fats.

As an example, I’ve been eating Pecan Halves for breakfast. I’ve never been a big breakfast eater, and this is better than a shake or bar for sure:

A few mornings I had bacon and eggs instead, or just eggs (which are also a good source of fat), but that’s usually more of a “brunch” or early lunch for me:

There was a time or maybe two that I had a “junk food” snack of Vienna Sausages (yuck, I know, lol – but easy and low carb) which I dip in mustard and eat with a thick slice of colby jack cheese:

I got take-out from a local restaurant that makes delicious (super tender!) grilled tenderloin, with a side of eggs (which were kinda yuck). I ordered more tenderloin than I could eat, and then snacked on it all day:

That’s what I call “drive-thru grocery shopping” 😉 lol. I did that one morning at McDonald’s too. I ordered two Sausage Egg McMuffins both with double sausage and double fried egg, and just ate on sausages and eggs all day. 😛

I went over to hang out with my awesome fellow one night, and he made me a low carb dinner. How great is that?! He grilled ribeye steaks and mushrooms, and made a caesar salad on the side:

I did get a second spoonful of mushrooms, but I went easy on the vegetables. And of course picked the croutons out of my salad. 😀

He made another low carb meal for me this week too. YES he’s awesome! You gotta love a man who can cook, and one who’s willing to cook low carb just for you! 😉 This time it was grilled pork chops, green beans & mushrooms cooked over the grill in butter & garlic, with caesar salad:

Back to my house, and it’s back to take-out! lol… One of my favorites is the grilled chicken and roasted cauliflower/broccoli from a local Greek restaurant:

Another favorite is the grilled salmon from the Japanese restaurant. I ordered double vegetables (mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli) instead of vegetables and rice – and an Avocado Salad on the side (mostly just for the avocado, lol):

With both take-out orders, there was enough to enjoy another meal or two out of leftovers. Outside of getting by on that, plus pecans and maybe a spoonful of peanut butter or cottage cheese here and there, I did have the Gorton’s (frozen) Grilled Tilapia a time or two:

I had it without the spinach this week (that spinach is GREAT, btw!), and just with mayo on the side to dip it in:

So there you have it. I’ve been going heavy on the pecans, salmon, avocado, eggs (healthy fats)… and lighter on the vegetables, but still getting in a few good portions. No bars, no shakes, very little processed food (only the Vienna Sausages and that one bit of cheese with them). I am still drinking Diet Coke, and Splenda in my coffee, so that’s something to tackle next – along with adding exercise and water.

I’m craving salmon, avocado and mushrooms…
so I already know what my next take-out order is going to be. 😀

My goal for this challenge is to lose 20 pounds by the end of June (if not before, which would be amazing!). It’s almost boat season again, and I can’t wait to get back out on the water ski! 6.4 down and I’m going to continue with the healthy fats – because that’s working for me, finally!

Want to join us for support, accountability and great low carb food ideas & recipes? Sign up at http://www.90DayLowCarbChallenge.com